::Last-Child – Ted Drake

Accessibility | Inclusion | Belonging | DEI AF

Resist with Ted
  • Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    I was invited to join the Zero Project Conference in Vienna this year, and I was proud to represent both Intuit and the Magical Bridge Foundation. Across three days, I saw a wide range of disability-focused work, but the strongest message was consistent: accessibility moves forward when disabled people are treated as leaders, not just…

  • Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Accessibility work often starts with urgency. A customer complaint, a legal requirement, a failed audit, or a team member raising their hand and saying, “This isn’t working for everyone.” Those moments matter, but urgency alone doesn’t create durable change. What sustains accessibility over time is structure, shared understanding, and a clear sense of progression. This…

  • How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    Accessibility work often happens behind the scenes – design thinking sessions, backlog refinements, bug fixes that never make the release notes. Because that effort is invisible, it’s easy for accessibility to be misunderstood, deprioritized, or treated as a checkbox. But when you pair data with narrative, accessibility becomes visible, meaningful, and aligned with shared goals.…

  • Building the Brain of Your Accessibility AI

    Building the Brain of Your Accessibility AI

    Preface This document reflects the most accurate guidance I can offer today, based on the current state of accessibility standards, AI tooling, and real-world practice. Both accessibility and AI are evolving quickly. As models improve, platforms change, and new standards emerge, some of the details and recommendations here will need to adapt. The core principles—intentional…

  • AI Prompt: Have Gemini summarize your folders

    AI Prompt: Have Gemini summarize your folders

    I wasn’t a big fan of Gemini until the latest version and now it’s become a key part of my workflow at Intuit. A key advantage is the native inclusion with Google Drive. Marco Salsiccia is our mobile accessibility expert and has created numerous folders of videos showing the screen reader experience in different applications.…

  • Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Aligning Accessibility with What Already Matters Every company has its own personality. It might be obsessed with speed, driven by design, led by customer feedback, or focused on data. The identity shapes how decisions get made—and if you want accessibility to last, it has to fit right in. I’ve seen accessibility efforts succeed (and survive)…

  • Inclusive AI Isn’t New—But How We Use It Matters More Than Ever

    Inclusive AI Isn’t New—But How We Use It Matters More Than Ever

    Artificial intelligence might feel like the hot new thing—but for folks working in accessibility, AI has been quietly powering essential tools for decades. Whether it’s reading a street sign out loud, helping someone navigate indoors, or turning spoken words into text, inclusive technology has always been one of the proving grounds for AI. That’s why…

  • From “I” to “We”: Building Lasting Accessibility by Letting Go

    From “I” to “We”: Building Lasting Accessibility by Letting Go

    When we think about leadership, we often picture a single person standing at the front of the room, confidently sharing big ideas and inspiring the crowd. We imagine a strong individual leading the charge, driving change through personal determination and charisma. But if there’s one lesson I’ve learned from years of working in accessibility and…

  • If you answer it twice, make it an article

    If you answer it twice, make it an article

    Most accessibility teams are small and we need to make the most of our available time. Answering questions from designers, developers, PMs, and customer success can be the best use of our time. But it can also be a time waste if we’re constantly answering the same questions. At Intuit, I’ve had the policy of…

  • Accessibility Keyword list for filtering Voice of Customer

    Accessibility Keyword list for filtering Voice of Customer

    This list of keywords was a collaborative effort that was compiled by accessibility leaders of technology companies. They represent words customers may use that are not necessarily accessibility-specific. You can use these to find the comments that would otherwise be missed. Contribute to this list via the a11y-data-keywords project on GitHub. 508 access technology access…

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